Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher in Italy

Italy: Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher was 42.9% in 2023. ▲ Rising

Latest (2023)
42.9%
Change on year
up 1.2%
World rank
60th
of 95 countries
All-time high
42.9%
in 2023
All-time low
27.6%
in 1998
Years of data
26
1998–2023

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher in Italy, 1998–2023

0102030401998201020231998: 27.61999: 28.42000: 28.82001: 29.82002: 30.62003: 30.82004: 31.32005: 34.62006: 35.52007: 35.92008: 36.72009: 37.82010: 38.82011: 39.22012: 39.92013: 40.32014: 40.32015: 40.82016: 412017: 41.22018: 41.42019: 41.82020: 41.72021: 422022: 42.32023: 42.9

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics.

Analysis

In 2023, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher in Italy stood at 42.9%. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.

That represents a change of up 1.2% on the previous year and up 6.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher in Italy peaked at 42.9% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 27.6%, in 1998.

Italy ranks 60th of 95 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 26 years of available data.

Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher in Italy, year by year

Annual values for Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher education in Italy, 1998 to 2023.
Year Value Change
1998 27.6%
1999 28.4% +2.8%
2000 28.8% +1.5%
2001 29.8% +3.6%
2002 30.6% +2.4%
2003 30.8% +0.6%
2004 31.3% +1.6%
2005 34.6% +10.8%
2006 35.5% +2.6%
2007 35.9% +1.1%
2008 36.7% +2.2%
2009 37.8% +3.1%
2010 38.8% +2.5%
2011 39.2% +0.9%
2012 39.9% +1.9%
2013 40.3% +1.0%
2014 40.3% +0.1%
2015 40.8% +1.2%
2016 41.0% +0.5%
2017 41.2% +0.5%
2018 41.4% +0.5%
2019 41.8% +0.8%
2020 41.7% -0.2%
2021 42.0% +0.8%
2022 42.3% +0.8%
2023 42.9% +1.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 28.0% 27.6% 28.4% 2
2000s 33.2% 28.8% 37.8% 10
2010s 40.5% 38.8% 41.8% 10
2020s 42.2% 41.7% 42.9% 4

Countries ranked near Italy

  1. 57 Bolivia, Plurinational State of 43.7% compare
  2. 58 Uzbekistan 43.6% compare
  3. 59 Greece 43.2% compare
  4. 61 Germany 42.7% compare
  5. 62 Switzerland 42.5% compare
  6. 63 France 42.4% compare

See the full ranking of 95 places →

More science & technology data for Italy

All data for Italy →

Frequently asked questions

What is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher in Italy?
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher in Italy was 42.9% in 2023, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher recorded in Italy?
The highest recorded value was 42.9% in 2023.
What is the lowest female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher recorded in Italy?
The lowest recorded value was 27.6% in 1998.
How does Italy rank for female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher?
Italy ranks 60th out of 95 countries with data for 2023.
Is female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (hc) - higher rising or falling in Italy?
Over the last ten years it is up 6.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this Italy data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher in Italy. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 12 September 2026, from https://science-tech.statizoid.com/stat/female-researchers-as-a-percentage-of-total-researchers-hc-higher-education/italy/

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About this data

Indicator
Female researchers as a percentage of total researchers (HC) - Higher education
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics)
Coverage
95 places, 1,486 data points, 1996–2024
Last refreshed

February 2026 Data Release